UNHCR Supports Libya in Fight against COVID-19

Officials carry out disinfection works within coronavirus (COVID-19) precautions at Martyrs’ Square in Tripoli, Libya on March 25, 2020. (Photo by Hazem Turkia/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Officials carry out disinfection works within coronavirus (COVID-19) precautions at Martyrs’ Square in Tripoli, Libya on March 25, 2020. (Photo by Hazem Turkia/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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UNHCR Supports Libya in Fight against COVID-19

Officials carry out disinfection works within coronavirus (COVID-19) precautions at Martyrs’ Square in Tripoli, Libya on March 25, 2020. (Photo by Hazem Turkia/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Officials carry out disinfection works within coronavirus (COVID-19) precautions at Martyrs’ Square in Tripoli, Libya on March 25, 2020. (Photo by Hazem Turkia/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) mission in Libya said on Saturday that it provided medical support to the COVID-19 quarantine centers in the country.

This came as reports claimed that several members of the locally based rapid response team had contracted the virus.

Following coordination with local authorities, the UNHCR said it had provided kits, medicines, and disinfection tools to the quarantine centers in Zawiya, northwestern Libya.

House of Representatives (HOR) member Miloud Al-Aswad said several cases were reported among members of the rapid response team in Riqdalin who contracted the virus while they were performing their tasks.

Aswad further lauded the medical and nursing teams’ efforts in the fight against the pandemic.

The total confirmed caseload in the country reached 36,000, according to the National Center for Disease Control.

Meanwhile, the country’s total recoveries rose to 20,889, while death toll reached 578.



Sudanese Army Airstrikes Kill Dozens in Darfur

Smoke rises in the sky over Khartoum following armed clashes that left dozens dead and injured (AFP)
Smoke rises in the sky over Khartoum following armed clashes that left dozens dead and injured (AFP)
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Sudanese Army Airstrikes Kill Dozens in Darfur

Smoke rises in the sky over Khartoum following armed clashes that left dozens dead and injured (AFP)
Smoke rises in the sky over Khartoum following armed clashes that left dozens dead and injured (AFP)

More than 60 people have been killed and over 250 injured in airstrikes by the Sudanese military on the town of Kouma in North Darfur. This incident is being described by observers as one of the “largest massacres” of civilians since the conflict began.

Dozens more have died in separate attacks targeting the areas of Meilit, Wad Abu Saleh, and Um Duwain in Khartoum, with increasing calls for a ban on military flights by the Sudanese army.

Witnesses told Asharq Al-Awsat that the military targeted Kouma’s market on Friday morning, dropping explosive barrels that caused widespread destruction. Many victims were shopping at the bustling “Friday market,” and the death toll is expected to rise due to a lack of medical care for the injured.

The attacks are viewed as deliberate assaults on civilians, particularly since there were no Rapid Support Forces (RSF) present in the crowded market. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with bodies scattered throughout the area.

In Meilit, airstrikes also targeted a wedding celebration, killing about 13 people and injuring others. Activists and eyewitnesses deny the presence of the RSF in these locations, despite military claims that air operations are directed at them.

Political and human rights groups have condemned the escalating airstrikes and called for an immediate ban on military flights in Darfur.

The Civil Democratic Forces Coordination (Tagadum) stated that the Kouma market attack was a severe violation against civilians, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries.

The group expressed concern about ongoing violations against civilians in Sudan and highlighted the need for international attention to protect innocent lives. They urged the warring parties to cease hostilities and engage in negotiations to end the conflict.